Morning Sickness and Work: Dealing with Nausea During Pregnancy

Morning sickness during pregnancy can seem to be incessant. For many women, it does not only strike in the morning but continues throughout the day as well. Trying to work at a job while nauseated can be one of the hardest tasks to do, however, there are only a limited number of sick days that a pregnant woman can take off of work. Here are some ways to cope with morning sickness while still getting the job done.

Keep snack nearby throughout the day, and take frequent, small bites. Eating may sound like the last thing you want to do, but it is important to keep something in your stomach at all times. An empty stomach will often promote nausea as the stomach acid will begin to work on the stomach's lining. Choose foods like crackers, pretzels, muffins, biscuits, and bread to help soothe your nausea.

Instead of going out to eat, bring your own lunch. It is very difficult to control how food is prepared in fast food restaurants. Often times things are fried or contain a lot of fat. Avoid fatty or greasy foods at all costs, because they are harder on your stomach to break down. Packing your own luch gives you complete control of what you eat and how it was prepared.

Avoid the break room during lunch time. Co-workers who are not pregnant do not share your consistent urge to vomit, and often times they will eat greasy food. Sometimes even the smell of greasy food is enough to make a pregnant woman sick, so just stay away from others while they are eating.

Sip on fluids throughout the day to maintain hydration. Water is a good option, as well as sports drinks that contain electrolytes and potassium. You may want to water down sports drinks if they are too sugary to tolerate. Also, take frequent sips of ginger ale. Make sure to get the kind with real ginger in it, because ginger is a known natural remedy for nausea.

If you do get sick while at work, be prepared with wet wipes, mouthwash and toothbrush, and makeup, and lip balm to freshen up with afterwards. Keep these items in a handy place like a purse or a desk drawer for easy access.

You may experience some tough days where you feel very sick, but just remember that eventually it will all go away. Being pregnant is a unique experience, and after your baby is born you will be telling yourself how the baby was worth it all!